Meet the Small-Scale Fisheries We're Working With
About the Cambridge Bay Arctic Char Fishery
The Cambridge Bay Arctic Char Fishery is the largest and most northern char fishery in Canada. Arctic Char is central to food security and the local economy in Cambridge Bay. Each season, harvesters travel to remote fishing sites before bringing their catch home, where every fish is processed locally at Kitikmeot Foods, supporting many jobs in the community.
Location
Nunavut
Harvest Species
Arctic Char
Gear Type
Gillnets and Modern Weirs
Our Work Together
The Cambridge Bay fishery has been Ocean Wise Recommended since 2014 and is now updating its assessment with Ocean Wise to incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Inuit Knowledge). This project is also supporting the fishery’s goals of transitioning fully to modern weir systems to reduce the fishery’s bycatch and improve sustainability. All with the long-term goal of making their sustainably harvested Arctic Char available to Canadian communities outside Cambridge Bay.
This work will ensure that our fishery not only remains sustainable but improves on future sustainability by maintaining strong, healthy fish stocks and leaving non-target fish unharmed.
Brent Nakashook
Kitikmeot Foods General Manager
Ocean Wise’s small-scale fisheries work supports this fishery in working toward alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
SDG 8
Decent Work & Economic Growth
SDG 10
Reduced Inequality
SDG 14
Life Below Water
